Orchard spray



Aug. 2, 1938. T. L. cAlRNs 2,125,602

ORCHARD SPRAY INVENTOR. @xeon/vaag @ai/ww A TTORNEY.

` PatentediAug. i2, 1938 v y. i l

UNITED STATES VPATENTv OFFIQE 2,125,602

ORCHARD SPRAY Theodore L. Cairns, Lindsay, Calif. y ApplicationSeptember 29, 1934, Serial No. 746,122.

1 claim. (c1. 29e-ss) `My invention relates to a'combination appawallsIl, the air inlet I9, and the air outlet I6. A ratus which can beusedfor spraying or dusting multi-bladed fan I3 revolves in the casingI5 and plants, trees, vines, field crops, etc. When used sucks air thruinlet I9 and exhausts it thru outfor dusting, it operates as shown in myU. S. let I6. The fan is carried on shaft Iii, mounted "-I Patent No.1,880,781 dated October 4, 1932, enin suitable bearings in thecasingwalls II. A 5

titled Orchard duster.. source ofpower (not shown) drives the fan thruAn object of the present invention is toprovide pulley I8 and belt 20. acombination machine that can accomplish all The hopper 30, used onlywhen the machine is the objects obtained with the machine of my Operatedfor dusting, is alsosupported above the f earlier patent and in additionto provide a liquid base I2, by any suitable means such as the irons i()spray apparatusior use where this typ-e of treat- 3|. The fOilI SideS 0fthe hOlODer S1096 inwardly ment is desirable. at 32 to guide thesulphur, or other dust spray- Afurtner object of my invention is toprovide a ine material, into Contact with the squirrel case means forretrieving the liquid which is deposited type agitator 33 (See Fig. 4)mounted 0n Shaft 34 lonthe walls of the outlet pipe and then, leading atthe bottom, and dreCiy OVer the VelVeS 35 l5 this accumulated liquidback into the air stream. (see Fie. '7). Shaft 34 is rotated slowly bypinion `A further object of my invention is to provide 31 driVen by aWOrm 36 on Shaft 38. Shaft 33 is a device tospread automatically theliquid spray likewise worm driven from the blower shaft I4, as itemerges from the outlet pipe. by means of pinion 39 and worm @0. Thetwin In the accompanying drawings forming a part worm reductions givethe desired speed ratio be 20 of this speciiication, and in which likenumerals tween shafts 34 and I4. `are employedto designate like partsthroughout When it iS desired 150 Operate the machine fer the same: pliquid spraying,lthe agitator 33 may be discon- Fig. 1 is e side view cfthe assembled machine heated from shaft 34 by means 0f a Clutch, Comonthe drive Side, prised of the clutch member 34a attached to shaft 25Fig, 2 is g. Side View 0f the gggembied machine 34, and the clutchmember 361i loosely mounted on the control Side, thereon. A shiftingyoke 34o fits in a groove in the Fig. 3 is a top plan view, member 34h,permitting movement of the clutch Fig. 4 is en end view facing thedischarge end element by the lever 34d, which is hinged t0 the of themachine, base of the hopper and with its other end movingV Fig, 5 is apartial section and top plan View 0f in the guide 348. The 'Valves 35remain Closed the discharge end of the machine, fOr this OperatingC0ndit0ni Fig, 6 ige Section taken on the line 6 6 0f Fig. 5 illustratestheivalve control means for Fig. 4, 1, the valves arranged to uncoverthe openings 4I v Fig, '7 is a, Section taken on the iin'e 1. .1 of inthe bottom of the hopper when the machine is 35 Fig. 4, used fordusting. These comprise the sliding Fig. s is a view looking into theend of a disvalves 35, (Shown partially opened in Fie. 5) archarge pipe,and ranged to slide in guides 42 (see Fig. 9) under the pigv 9 is a sideSection taken on the iine 9 9 control of the links 43 and M, connectedto in- 40, OfIig, 6, dividual bell cranks l5 and ME, and to separate 40Figa 1, 2, 3 and 4 illustrate the assembled m3,- control levers 4l and48. These control levers eX- chine of my invention when set up forliquid tend 11D the Side 0f the hODper and engage the sprayingcomprising the blower, the mixing guide i9 fastened thereto, and onwhich is archambers with the outlet, the spray spreading ranged a seriesof projections 5t, to hold the levers fisflaps, and the means forcatching. the excess liquid in the desired place during operation. Bythe 45 and recirculating it back into the air stream. `means described,I attain a separate and individ- I have shownthe machine set up for usewith a ual control over each of the valves 35. liquid spray. When it isto be used for dusting, Figs. 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9 illustrate in detail aprethe spray spreading iiaps, the liquid pipe in the ferred constructionof the outlet pipe as it is 5o mixing chamber, and the liquidrecirculating. arranged when spraying liquid. 50 means are removed so asnot to interfere with the The primary miXing Chamber 54 comprises a duststream. fitting having three openings, two in line with the The blowerIll, usedto supply an air stream in air stream, the one nearest thelatters source both `liquid spraying and dusting, is mounted on having aVenturi tube 55 therein; the third bebase `I2 and is vcomprised of thecasing I5, with ing positioned around the hopper opening '53, but 55 thehopper is full the the hopper empties.

must be made each hour, and if the operator is to .f have to be closedgradually as with an air inlet 56 formed therebetween. The structureshown in Fig.r9 is T-shaped, although any three-port structure willaccomplish'a satisfactory result.

The primary mixing chamber shown in Fig. 9 consists of a centralpassageway 51 in direct line with the air stream passing through theoutlet pipe 56. Opening into the top of the passageway 51 is apassageway 58, the diameter of which is slightly larger than the outsidediameter of the hopper outlet 53. The hopper outlet 53 is positioned inthe center of the passageway 58, forming an air inlet 56, which airinlet communicates withfv the atmosphere. Y

VA Venturi tube 55 is mounted in the end ofthe mixing chamber 54 withthe large opening V59of the venturi facing the blower I0. The opening 59is of smaller diameter than-the outlet pipe 5|;

hence the air stream from the blower passes bothr 54, and around'through the venturi and chamber it, enveloping the casing of the primarymixing chamber 54. The Venturi may have-its smaller opening60'positioned beneath the` hopper outlet 58.

The chamber54 is heldin place in the outlet pipe 5| by suitable meanssuch as the nut 6| threaded on the walls 62.

Aisecondarymixing chamber 63 is formed in the inlet pipe 5| at theoutlet 64of. the chamber 54;@r In this chamber a turbulent action is setup when the enveloping air stream is disturbed by the air streamemerging from the chamber 54 carrying the dust lor the atomized liquid.The velocity of the two air streams will be unequal at this point,resulting in a uniform distortion in the chamber and an equalizeddistribution of the dust or liquid in suspension in the air stream.

By means of the Venturi tube 55 the velocity of that portion of the airstream passing through the venturi is increased and a vacuum createdbelow` the hopper outlet 53 in the case of dusting. The

tendency of this vacuum is to draw the dust from( the bottom of thehopper into the air stream.

It has been found in with the dust within the hopper in ailuired-condition. in the-airstream, the dust content increasing -asSeveral'rells of the hopper secure a constant dust to air ratio,'itwould require careful attention on his part and a frequent manipulationof the valve 35. The valve would the level of the dust in the hopperlowered.

By means of the air inlet 56-it has ,been found that la balancing effectis producedwhich automatically regulates the suction. A constantquantity of dust is withdrawn, whether the hopperbe full oronlypartially full.

ratio-by setting the valve 35 at the desired point and no furtherattention on his part is required to maintain this mixture constant.

' 'I'he absence of back pressure, or a tendency of the air stream topass up into the hopper due to the construction ofthe primary mixingchamber Sil-, makes -itl possible to run the machine with the l hopperuncovered. The advantage of a construc-Y 75%; thereby saved.

earlier devices.that when vacuum will drawin 'less dust than when thehopper is partially empty and 'I'his results in an unequal ratio of dustIn this way, it is possible for the operator to control the mixturev itcan bedone as in this machine When operated as a dusting machine thespray spreading flap 82, and the liquid pipes 1| and 19 are removed.

. While I have described only one branch 5| of the conduitl, what I havesaid applies equally to the branch 52. The machine may be built eitheras a single unit or double unit.

In addition to providing a machine for the introduction of a drymaterial into the air stream I also provide means for convertingthemachine into a liquid spray device. For this type of work the machine isused as shown in the drawings, except that the hopper valves 35 remainclosed.

A liquid, such as oil or water, is conducted by gravity,vto a pipe 10interposed in the primary mixing chamber 54, 'I'he liquid is atomized asit is drawn out of the openings 1| in the pipe 10, by the rapidly movingair stream. These liquid particles are carried in suspension in the airstream until exhausted from the ends of the two pipes 5| and.52. The fogor mist emitted travels fromf6 to 8 feet' and settles on the plant ortree being sprayed.

The liquidis supplied by gravity to the pipes 10 from a suitable source(not shown) connected to the pipe 12. A strainer 13 removes foreignmatter from the oil before it passes thru pipe 14leading tothe needlecontrol valves 15. The handles 16` enable the operator to control atwill the amount of liquid introduced into the air stream.

Due to the turbulence in the secondary mixing chamber 63 I atomizedliquid is precipitated onto the Walls of that vchamber and under streamis conductedzalong said'vvalls to the end thereof.

I provide a novel means (see Figs; S'and 9) to'prevent the loss of thisliquid and to cause it to be returned into'the air stream. Thiscomprises a catch trough1'l"`mounted on the end of the mixing chamberV63. A pipe with a horizontal section18and vertical section 19 connectswith the bottom of the trough. Openings 80are providedin the verticalsection of the pipe on the side opposite the source ofthe air stream. As:the air stream sweeps past these'openings 80 it creates a Vacuum in thepipe 1.9"and any oil in the trough11 is lifted to the openings 80 andatomized'into the air stream.

I obtain a novel result in distributingsthe mist, for by means of apper82 hinged at 83 to the bracket 84, the latter beingV the chamber Wall at85,' the mist is alternately deilected upwardly and downwardly. Theair.stream reacts on the hinged flapper 82 to cause it to move up and downas shown in dotted linesv in Fig-9. The extent of this up and downmovement can be varied to suit the operator, by inserting links 84' ofdifferent lengths. Thelonger the links 84, the less is the disturbanceor breakingup'v of the miststream; When theapper 82 'is swinging abovethe center, that is,` above 83, the air stream emerging of the branch 5|will shoot ferred to but one of the mixing chambers 63, and' I want itunderstood'that my machine may employ one or more such'V chambers andVthat in theI drawings, the-saine reference numeralsv are given havefound that about 5% of they the influence of the lairY rigidly attachedtov upper half of the air stream to duplicated parts in the two-unitstructure i1- lustrated.

Operation as a. dusting machina-A supply of dust, such as sulphur orother insecticide, is placed in the hopper. The motor or other powersupply means for the fan is started, the air stream begins to flowthrough the conduit I6, and the handles il and 48 are moved to openvalves 35 to the point where the desired mixture ratio of air and dustis obtained. 'I'he dust in the hopper near the outlet pipe 53 ismaintained in a loosened condition by means of the squirrel cageagitator 33. As the air stream advances down the conduit I6, it isdivided upon contact with edge 55 of the venturi. Part of the streampasses into the venturi and emerges at 6l! at a considerably increasedvelocity and pressure, thereby creating a pull to draw down the dustthrough the hopper outlet 53. The dust and liquid drawn into the primarymixing chamber l is picked up by the air stream and carried through theoutlet 56. The balance of the air stream which did not enter the venturiat 55 envelops the exterior of the mixing chamberli'fl and rushes by theoutlet 54. The difference in velocity between the air emerging from 64and that on the outside causes a state of turbulence at this point,which might be termed the second mixing chamber, and results in thethorough distribution of the dust particles throughout the volume ofair. Once the operator has secured the desired air-dust ratio, nofurther manipulation of the valves 35 is necessary, due to the balancing`effect of the air passage 55, which has the eiect of automaticallydrawing through the hopper outlet 53 a constant quantity of the dust.

The machine can be operated as a double dusting unit as shown, or theoperator can use it as a single unit by closing one of the valves 35.

Operation as a liquid spraying machine.-A source of liquid, such aswater or oil, depending upon the results desired, is available and readyto flow through the valves 15. The motor or other power supply means forthe fan is started, the air stream begins to flow through the conduitI6, and either one or both of the valves 'I5 are opened admitting liquidinto pipes l0, from whence the rapidly moving air stream draws theliquid through the openings 'il and atomizes it. By adjusting the valvesl5 the operator can obtain the desired air-liquid ratio, As the mixtureadvances through the chambers 63 a certain percentage of the liquidadheres to the wall and ows into the trough T. The air stream exerts apull on this liquid due to the holes 8l) in the pipe i9, and a re-entryof this liquid into the air stream is accomplished. As the air streamemerges from the chamber 53 it lifts the flapper 82. The flapper,however, does not assume any one position and hold it, but has beenfound in practice to vibrate up and down (see Fig. 9).

While certain features of the present invention are more or lessspecically described, I wish it understood that various changes may beresorted to within the scope of the appended claim, similarly, that thematerials and finishes of the several parts employed may be such as themanufacturer may decide or varying conditions or uses may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

A vapor spraying machine comprising a conduit, a blower connected to oneend of said conduit to produce an air stream therein, a primary mixingchamber suspended within said conduit, a Venturi tube mounted in one endof said chamber With its large end spaced away from the wall of saidconduit, a perforated pipe extending into said primary mixing chamber,means for conducting liquid to said pipe, a trough attached at theoutlet end of said conduit, means for passing any accumulated liquidfrom said trough back into the air stream issuing from said conduit.

THEODORE L. CAIRNS.

